Board says paying for patching, shoulder work is money wisely spent

Road maintenance has been the unwitting victim in recent years when Town of Saukville officials needed an area for budget cuts.

The Town Board reversed that trend last week, at least to a minimal level.

Following the board’s annual road tour, supervisors approved approximately $78,000 in road maintenance and repairs.

Estimates for the repairs were provided by the Ozaukee County Highway Department, which will do the paving work.

A county matching grant will cover $25,600 of the amount designated for road construction, rather than repair.

Topping that category is $30,300 for paving and shoulder work on Shady Lane.

Patching and shoulder work was also approved on Hawthorne Drive and Meadowlark Road, as long as the total cost does not exceed $50,000.

The board also considered three chip-sealing projects before determining the greatest need is on Birchwood Road south of Highway 33. That work is expected to cost $13,000.

Additional shoulder restoration was approved at sites where needed, to a maximum cost of $4,500.

Officials were also adamant about allocating $3,000 to fill pot holes

“When it comes to pot holes, I’m a believer in the saying ‘A stitch in time saves nine,’” Town Chairman Barb Jobs said.Supr. Curt Rutkowski also successfully lobbied the board to include money for crack filling to keep newer roads in good shape.

“I think we need to budget for three days of crack filling,” Rutkowski said, citing the county’s rate of $2,500 a day.

After 30 minutes of weighing projects, Jobs seemed pleased with the headway the board made.

“We are out of money, but we are going to get some fixing done,” she said.

Keeping a close eye on spending, the board shelved several major projects recommended by the county, including $62,500 to repave a section of Hickory Road and $53,000 for a section of Northwoods Road.

Future sealing work was also deferred on Forest Lane, Hawthorne, Blueberry, Hillcrest, Center and River Park roads, as well as overlay paving on Hawthorne Drive, Cedar Sauk, Bluegoose, Willow and River Park roads and Riverview Trail.